Vertebrae manipulating and massaging device



April 1942- H. E. WIYLDERMUTH VERTEBRAE MANIPULATING AND MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1940 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HENRY E \A/ILUBRMUTH Patented AprnZI, 1942 VERTEBRAE MANIPULATING AND MASSAGING DEVICE H Henry E. Wildermutli, St. Paul Minn,

Application February 12, 1940, Serial'No. 318,417 3 Claims. (01. 12869) My invention relates to an improvement in ertebrae manipulating and massaging device, wherein it is desired toprovide an apparatus capable of correcting misplaced vertebrae and be self-operated umn, tending to relieve a stiff spinal column condition and to promote increased circulation in a mannerto stimulate the nervous system to greater activity.

It is 'aIpurpose of my invention to provide a device capable of engaging the back adjacent the spinal column, and to provide a means for connecting this back engaging member for operation by the'feet 'of the patient. Thus the patient may exert any desired pressure against his back to the limit of his strength and may adjust the pressure to suit any condition.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a vertebrae manipulating device whichis adjustable to fit persons of various statures. In preferred form my device includes a single belt or cable which may be adjusted in length to .encircle the back and the feet of the patient while the patient is in a sitting position. By varying the length of this single strap or by adjusting the length of a pair of straps in case more than one strap is used the device may be adjusted to fit any size of person.

It is a feature of my invention to employ a foot engaging member by means of which pressure maybe applied, tending to pull the back engagingmember to one side or to the other. Thus pressure may be used on either side of the vertebrae, tending to correct misalignment of whenp ressure isrelieved by the feet, the mem:

ber engagingthe back does not have the same tendency to drop downwardly completely off the back, as it would if this knee engaging cross member were not provided.

It is a featureof my invention to provide a back engaging member embodying a pair of spaced resilient protruding members having a relieved portion therebetween in which the vertebrae may engage. By this means the vertebrae may be drawn into alignment by the proper massaging treatment.

It is a feature vof my invention to provide a flexible exercising device embodying three transversely extending members one of which is designed to engage the back, one of which is designed to extend over the knees, and the third of which is designed to be engaged by the feet.- It is a further feature of my invention that the member engaged-by the feet may be provided with a means connected with the floor or other anchoring member so that the patient may lean rearwardly at a considerable angle without danger of falling backwards.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following'specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification: l

Figure 1 is a perspective manipulating and massaging device in operation. Figure 2 is a perspectiveview of my device when not in use. Figure 3 is a perspective View of the cross member designed forengagement with the feet. Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the cross member designed for engagement with the knees. Figure 5 is an end view of the cross member disclosed in Figure 4. a

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cross member designed to engage the back ofthe patient. a

t Figure 'lis a transverse section through the cross-member illustrated in Figure 6, showing the massaging device and its relation with the spine of a patient. l a V The vertebrae manipulating and massaging device A comprises a strap, belt, or cable 10, one end of which is equipped with a buckle II to accommodate the free end l2 of the strap 10. By means of the buckle II the length of the strap may be adjusted to accommodate various sizes of patients. l

The strap III is connected to a cross member l3 provided with a back engaging pad M. The strap [3 overlies the rear surface of the cross member I 4 and this cross member I3 is provided with rounded ends I5 over which the strap l0 View of my vertebrae may fold. Reinforcing or clamping plates I6 are secured to the cross member I3 by screws I! or other suitable means, these screws H extending through the strap II] to secure the strap in definite fixed relation to the cross member I3.

The pad I4 in preferred form includes a pair of straps I9 secured by screws 20 or other suitable means to the front surface of the cross member I3. The straps I9 are formed of rubber or other suitable material in preferred form and are designed to encircle blocks or pads 2| of soft resilient material such as sponge rubber or the like. The other end of each of the straps I9 is connected by screws 22 or other suitable means in notches 23 in the front surface of the cross member I3. A flexible covering 24 is secured marginally to the cross member I3 and entirely encloses the straps I 9 and the resilient blocks 2I.

As will be seen in Figure 7 of the drawings, a space is provided between the resilient blocks 2I for engagement with the vertebrae diagrammatically indicated at 25. By transverse movement of the pad I4 with respect to the vertebrae 25, any misplaced vertebrae may be correctly aligned with the other vertebrae of the spinal column.

The strap III also extends over the transverse cross member 26. This cross member 26 is provided with inclined ends 21 over which the belt or strap I extends. A pair of substantially U- shaped loops or brackets 29 are connected to the ends of the cross member 26 and hold the strap I0 connected to this cross member. The

loops 29 are provided with substantially parallel sides 36 which are connected to the edges of the cross member 26 by screws or bolts 3|. The belt I0 may pass freely through the loops 29 and may move longitudinally with respect to the cross member 26.

A flexible loop 32 of belting or the like encircles the cross member 26 and extends below the same. The ends of this loop 32 are riveted together at 33 and a grommet 34 extends through the ends of the loop. A lacing or tie 35 may extend through the grommet 34 and be connected to a hook or any other anchoring means upon the floor. If desired, a hook may be extended directly through the grommet 34 to hold the cross member 26 from raising any considerable amount above the surface of the floor.

The cross member 36 is designed to connect the opposed sides of the strap II and to extend over the knees of the patient as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. This cross member in the form illustrated comprises a substantially cylindrical rod 31 enclosed throughout the major portion of its length by a tubular padding member 39 of soft rubber or the like. As best illustrated in Figures 2, 4, and of the drawings, the tube 39 is cut at 40 spaced from the ends of the bar 31 and the ends M of the tubing 39 are flattened and secured to the under surface of the bar 31. Middle loops 42 are secured by screws 43 or other suitable means to the bar 31 to accommodate the strap I0 which may pass freely therethrough.

In operation, the belt I0 is positioned to encircle the body in the general manner illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. By holding the cross member 26 firmly with one foot and exerting pressure with the other foot, one side of the cross member I3 is pulled forwardly, tending to exert forward and side pressure from the pad I4 upon the spinal column. By moving the pad I4 vertically along the spine and repeating this exercise, any vertebrae which are twisted with respect to the remaining vertebrae in one direction may be drawn into alignment with the remainder of the spinal column. The exercise may be repeated, exerting greater pressure to the opposite side and causing the misplaced vertebrae twisted in the opposite direction to be drawn into alignment with the remainder of the spinal column. Any desired amount of pressure may be exerted upon the back by the feet, and it will be understood that tremendous pressure may be exerted if it is so desired because of the force of the legs in the position illustrated.

The foregoing exercise tends not only to correct misplaced vertebrae, but also to massage the back adjacent the spinal column. Other exercises may also be performed in exercising the back such as exerting pressure with both feet and leaning the head back. The muscles of the back of the neck may also be massaged and treated in a similar manner.

It will be seen that the direction of pull upon the back is regulated by the position of the cross member 36 upon the knees. If the knees are relatively high and the cross member 36 is resting high upon the knees, the direction of pull upon the back is from a relatively high position. This is extremely useful in using the device, as in moving the cross member I3 downwardly along the spine, it is only necessary to lean forward and relieve the pressure upon the belt sufficiently to permit the cross member to slide downwardly a small amount. When the cross member has moved a sufficient distance, the pressure of the feet is again applied, stopping the downward movement of the cross member upon the back. As the line of pull is relatively high, downward movement of the cross member I3 may be stopped with comparative ease. If no such cross member is provided, the line of pull is always from the cross member 26, which is necessarily close to the floor. In such a case, the application of pressure by the feet does not as easily arrest the falling of the cross member upon the back, and this cross member is more difiicult to adjust in the desired position.

The addition of the cross member 36 also permits numerous exercises to be performed which would be impossible without this member. When the cross member 36 is moved downwardly out of contact with the knees, the massaging device may be used in the same way as if no such cross member were provided. By varying the position of this cross member, the direction of pull upon the back may be varied and thus different muscles affected.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my vertebrae manipulating and massaging device; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that these are only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention, and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A back massaging device comprising an elongated rigid transverse member, a pad thereupon designed to engage the back, a second elongated rigid transverse member designed to be engaged by the feet, a strap means secured longitudinally to said first named transverse member, slidably connected longitudinally to said second namedtransverse member, and means for ad- I ju'sting the length of said strap.

2. A back massaging and exercising device comprising a rigid elongated transverse member designed to be engaged by the back, a second rigid elongated transverse member designed to be engaged by the feet and a third rigid elongated transverse member designed to be engaged by the I knees; a strap; meanssecuring said strap longitudinally with respect to said first transverse 10 member, and means slidably connecting said strap to the ends of said second and third transverse members; and meansconnecting the ends of said strap together to adjust the relative position of said transverse members.

3. A back massaging and exercising device comprising a rigid elongated transverse member designed to engage the back, a second rigid elongated transverse member designed to engage the feet, and a third rigid elongated transverse member designed to engage the knees, a strap secured longitudinally with respect to said first transverse member, loops near the ends of said third transverse member through which said strap means may extend, means for slidably connecting said strap to the ends of said second transverse member, and means for adjustably connecting the ends of the strap together.

HENRY E. WILDERMUTH. 

